Uncoupling mechanism for cars.



R. W. BURNETT.

UNGOUPLING MECHANISM FOR CAB-S.

APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 22, 1910.

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R. W. BURNETT. UNGOUPLING MECHANISM FOR GAB-S.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 22, 1910.

1,022,579. Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

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RICHARD WEBB BURNETT, OF MONTREAL, QUEBEC, CANADA.

UNCOUPLING- MECHANISM FOR CARS.

Application filed June 22, 1910.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RICHARD WEBB BUR- NETT, of the city of Montreal, Province of Quebec, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Uncoupling Mechanism for Cars; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates particularly to the operating mechanism of car couplers and consists of the construction, combination and arrangement of parts herein described and pointed out in the claim.

The invention has for an object to provide a simplified form of device for insuring the unlocking of the coupler in the event of its breaking or the failure of any of its supporting attachments.

For full comprehension, however of the invention, reference must be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof and wherein- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the forward lower corner of a freight car provided with my improved uncoupling mechanism; Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof; Fig. 3 illustrates the mechanism in plan view, the corner of the car being in horizontal section; Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the device presenting the retaining flanges forming part of my mechanism; and Fig. 5 is an enlarged side elevation of the device illustrating the operation thereof.

The dead-wood is indicated at b, a draw bar at c, a coupler head at 0 and knuckle at 0 A bracket presenting a vertical flange (Z with a longitudinal slot 6 and transverse horizontal detent flange f, is fastened upon the top of the dead-wood. An operating rod 9' employed in conjunction with the bracket has one end bent at right angles to form a handle it and rotatably supported in a bearing 9 bolted to the end of the car, its opposite end being bent to present an arm 71 extending in line with and over the coupler head a to the locking device 10 of the coupler to which it is connected by a chain 13, while a trip-pin or finger 7c is rigidly secured to the arm a and extends at an obtuse angle therefrom. This opposite end of the rod is slidably retained in the slot 6 with the pin 70 in bearing relation with the detent flange.

The bracket consists of a piece of sheet Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 9, 1912.

Serial No. 568,336.

metal folded upon itself with its ends spread apart to form attachment pieces or flanges m, m, by which the bracket is fastened to the dead-wood, the folded portion being sheared off as at m to accommodate the pin 70 and bent to present the detent flange f, such flange and the vertical flange (Z being reinforced and braced by their double thickness.

Operation: The cars are uncoupled manually in the usual manner by swinging the handle it upwardly, thus raising the operating arm 2' and lifting the locking device or pin 10 with the effect that the knuckle is free to swing on its pivot and disengage from the coupler of the other car. In the event of the coupler breaking or the failure of any of its supporting attachments the diagonal pull exerted between the arm 2' and pin 10 by the coupler being pulled beyond its normal position as shown in chain lines in Fig. 5 acts to lift the locking pin and release the coupler, the detent flange f providing a stop n having a fixed relation through the finger 70 with the arm 71 to positively prevent the latter from swinging downwardly when the coupler pulls forward. The flange f and finger 70 also have a further function in combination with the slot 6 in insuring the unlocking of the coupler as follows: As the pin 10 is lifted, by the pull of the arm 2', toward the position shown in chain lines in Fig. 5, such pull gradually assumes a more horizontal direction and if some unusual friction developed between the pin 10 and the coupler the former might have a tendency to stick before the knuckle is released, but when the pin 10 is lifted to such point the horizontal pull, acting through link connection 13 and arm 2' on the rod 9, tends to move it slightly forward in the slot 6 with the result that the end of the arm 2' is given just a suflicient positive upward throw to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5 to overcome any possible sticking and the part 10 is released.

I claim:

The combination with a car and a coupler attached thereto and having a vertically movable locking member, of an uncoupling rod extending transversely of the car, and a bracket secured to the car, the rod having an upwardly projecting finger and an angular arm projecting outwardly over the conpler and flexibly connected to the locking In testimony whereof, I have signed my member, and the bracket being formed With name to this specification, in the presence of a substantially horizontal slot through which tWo subscribing Witnesses.

said rod passes and a horizontal detent RICHARD WEBB BURNETT. flange above said opening with which said Witnesses:

finger engages on an abnormal forward WILLIAM P. MOFEAT,

movement of the coupler. JOHN A. OKEEFE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

